Performance during the four terrestrial navigation scenario tasks. (A) Crossing sand terrain: enlarging SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to overcome a small bump and move on sand terrain. (B) Passing through a small aperture: shrinking SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to pass through a small aperture. (C) Ascending and descending stairs: enlarging SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to ascend and descend stairs. (D) Passing between unstable obstacles: the robot was carefully maneuvered between unstable poles without touching them while narrowing the wheels.

Performance during the four terrestrial navigation scenario tasks. (A) Crossing sand terrain: enlarging SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to overcome a small bump and move on sand terrain. (B) Passing through a small aperture: shrinking SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to pass through a small aperture. (C) Ascending and descending stairs: enlarging SNUMAX’s wheels allowed it to ascend and descend stairs. (D) Passing between unstable obstacles: the robot was carefully maneuvered between unstable poles without touching them while narrowing the wheels.

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This paper introduces SNUMAX, the grand winner of the RoboSoft Grand Challenge. SNUMAX was built to complete all the tasks of the challenge. Completing these tasks required robotic compliant components that could adapt to variable situations and environments and generate enough stiffness to maintain performance. SNUMAX has three key components: tra...

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